Paris Auto Show – Lamborghini Murciélago Roadster

Concept

Presented at the the Geneva Show 2004 – the Murciélago Roadster is now ready to enter into production and be put on sale, and this will happen in the second half of this year. The latest arrival at the House of the Raging Bull takes its inspiration from the great Italian tradition of open vehicles, in particular vehicles which have created the history of Lamborghini.

As powerful, fast and extreme as the Coupé version from which it derives, the Lamborghini Murciélago carries on Lamborghini’s twelve cylinder roadster tradition: from the 350 GTS to the Miura Roadster, right up to the most recent Diablo Roadster.

This has been achieved without compromising the performance expected from a real Lamborghini. Thanks to accurate design, the open version also delivers excellent handling, acceleration and driving safety characteristics.

The Murciélago Roadster version builds on the extreme and exclusive features of the Coupé thus confirming it as a real “icon” of the Lamborghini brand.

The new Lamborghini era started in 2001 with the Murciélago, followed in 2003 by the Gallardo, and continues with the arrival of the Murciélago Roadster in 2004, which enhances and further increases the undisputed value of the Murciélago range.

Design

As with the Coupé, the design of the Murciélago Roadster is exclusive, aggressive and extreme.

In creating the Roadster, the designer Luc Donckerwolke did not restrict himself to “cutting off” the roof of the Coupé. He bestowed it with its own sensational appearance, making the Murciélago Roadster a truly unique model.

A model which in series production has retained all the emotional impact of the initial concept itself.

The exterior design is characterised by a true muscularity that interacts with aggressive lines, exploring the whole language of Lamborghini design and raising it to a new, higher level.

The aggressive, exclusive and extreme themes are also reflected in the interior design, with streamlined headrests that perfectly integrate mobile air vents and “asymmetrical” leather upholstery. This enhances the whole driver’s part of the cockpit.

The front and lateral glass parts have been designed like a crash helmet visor, in order to integrate perfectly with the structure of the vehicle. In order not to alter the aesthetics of the car, the electronically controlled safety roll bars are automatic, extending only when necessary. As a result, optimum vehicle aerodynamics are maintained.

The newly conceived wheels are also in harmony with traditional Lamborghini design, with round holes that intersect the spokes.

There is easy access to the motor as the bonnet is opened at the front, as was the case with the legendary Miura.

Finally, the exhausts are also new, with a more aggressive “section” than the coupé.

Technical data

The Roadster differs from the Murciélago Coupé in certain important technical details. Various structural chassis components – in steel and carbon – have been redesigned to ensure adequate torsional stiffness, even though there is no roof.

In particular, there is a special stiffening lattice on the engine compartment structure. As an optional feature, this lattice is also available in a visible carbon fibre version.

Without altering the extreme features of the car, there is also the option of mounting a soft top roof (“R-top”) which, as in the tradition of this kind of model, is only designed for temporary use (for example in the case of sudden rain) and at a recommended maximum speed of 160 km/h.

Particular attention has been paid to safety. As mentioned previously, the Murciélago Roadster is equipped with an automatic, electronically-controlled roll bar, which extends from its housing behind the seats in only a few milliseconds during a roll-over emergency. The overall dimensions are the same as for the coupé: length is 4580 mm, width is 2045 mm, wheelbase is 2665 mm, front track is 1635 and rear track is 1695 mm. The only variation is in height: the Murciélago Roadster is 70mm lower than the coupé. The dry weight is 1665 kg, with a weight distribution of 42% at the front and 58% at the rear.

The engine is obviously the Lamborghini 12 cylinder 60° V, with a displacement of 6192 cc, producing 580 hp (426 kW) at 7500 rpm and a maximum torque of 650 Nm at 5400 rpm. The engine features the Lamborghini L.I.E. electronic engine management system. The standard gearbox is a 6-speed manual, like the Coupé. As an optional feature, a 6 speed “e-gear” automatic version is available.

There is also Lamborghini permanent four-wheel drive on the Roadster, with a central viscous coupling and limited slip rear and front differentials (45% rear, 25% front).

The wheel rims are aluminium alloy with dimensions of 8.5’’ at the front and 13’’ at the rear, with Pirelli Rosso 245/35ZR 18 tyres at the front and 335/30ZR 18 at the rear.

The maximum speed of the Murciélago Roadster (depending on aerodynamic configuration) is circa 320 km/h. The recommended maximum speed with the roof in place is 160 km/h.

The Murciélago Roadster accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds.

Despite the absence of the roof, structural modifications have ensured excellent levels of rigidity. This rigidity and the optimised suspension ensure that driveability and performance are definitely not inferior to those of the Coupé. Lap times for the two versions of the Murciélago at various handling circuits have proven to be more or less identical.

The new braking system

The Murciélago Roadster is equipped with a new braking system which is even more efficient than the previous one.

In particular, the diameter of the anterior and posterior discs has been increased. The front disc diameter has gone from 355 x 32mm to 380 x 34mm, and the rear disc diameter from 332 x 32mm to 355 x 32mm.

The front callipers are also new and have 8 pistons; the rear callipers are unchanged but the diameter of the four pistons has been increased.

The power brake and the brake pump are newly designed and more efficient resulting in a 30% reduction in the pressure needed to be put on the pedal.

The “fading” resistance is also excellent: the brakes on Murciélago Roadster are actually able to sustain heavy and prolonged usage, even on the circuit.

Obviously, the ABS system software has also been optimized.

Interior

The Murciélago Roadster is more extreme and exclusive than ever, also with respect to the interior. This has “asymmetrical” leather upholstery: the left side has different material compared to the right and is perforated. That part of the cockpit designed for the driver is oriented towards him/her, so it is a real “Pilot Oriented Challenger”.

The left side door panel also has “perforated” cladding, whereas the central part of both seats is made of alcantara. The headrest area has been modified to allow the use of the glove compartment nets in the area between the cockpit and the engine.

The steering wheel is also upholstered in leather and is partially perforated. The Lamborghini coat of arms is in the centre. Sitting at the wheel of the Murciélago Roadster, everything is under control, just as on the Coupé version.

The instrumentation is clear and precise, with body computer and trip computer. Among other driver aids are electric controls for the electrically-heated wing mirrors, a nonreflective rear view mirror and the axle lifting system, which allows the front axle of the vehicle to be raised by 45 mm at low speeds.

The automatic air conditioning, optional navigation system and convenient glove compartments also all contribute to comfort.

Among the options planned for the Murciélago Roadster, apart from the e-gear, there are also the navigation system, visible carbon fibre engine frame, visible carbon fibre underside of engine cover, special paint colours, wind deflector and protector and CI badge wheels.

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